US3304024A - Belt retracting means - Google Patents

Belt retracting means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3304024A
US3304024A US274271A US27427163A US3304024A US 3304024 A US3304024 A US 3304024A US 274271 A US274271 A US 274271A US 27427163 A US27427163 A US 27427163A US 3304024 A US3304024 A US 3304024A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
belt
spring
seat
take
tubular member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US274271A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Herbert A Mcaninch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Borg Warner Corp
Original Assignee
Borg Warner Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Borg Warner Corp filed Critical Borg Warner Corp
Priority to US274271A priority Critical patent/US3304024A/en
Priority to GB14309/64A priority patent/GB1061834A/en
Priority to DEB76348A priority patent/DE1277030B/de
Priority to DE19641431212 priority patent/DE1431212A1/de
Priority to NL6404157A priority patent/NL6404157A/xx
Priority to CH504164A priority patent/CH484768A/de
Priority to DK194664AA priority patent/DK113052B/da
Priority to CH504264A priority patent/CH466060A/de
Priority to BE646787A priority patent/BE646787A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3304024A publication Critical patent/US3304024A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/34—Belt retractors, e.g. reels
    • B60R22/3408—Belt retractors, e.g. reels without locking means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D25/00—Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for
    • B64D25/02—Supports or holding means for living bodies
    • B64D25/06—Harnessing

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a belt take-up or retracting means and particularly such means for use in conjunction with safety belts in vehicles such as automobiles or aircraft.
  • Another object is to provide a device which can be easily attached to belts which are already installed in automobiles, aircraft or any other pieces of equipment where such belts are used.
  • Another object is to provide a simple belt take-up means which has no relation to or connection with the belt anchoring means and may be attached to the belt at any desired position and subsequently adjusted to any desired position.
  • Another object is to provide a belt take-up means comprising a construction which rolls up the belt from both sides of the take-up means in a double layered formation thus effectively reducing the tension necessary in the energy storing means by reducing the effective length of the belt to be rolled up to substantially one-half its full length.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a seat equipped with seat belts and showing one belt section in extended position and another section in retracted position;
  • FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.
  • FIGURE 3 is an assembly drawing partially in section of a preferred form of the belt take-up device
  • FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the belt take-up device
  • FIGURES 5 and 6 show another embodiment of a take-up means incorporating the same general concept of the preferred embodiment
  • FIGURE 7 illustrates another embodiment utilizing a flat helical spring
  • FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 88 of FIG- URE 7.
  • FIGURE 1 there is illustrated generally two seat belt sections or lengths 10 in attached position on a seat and belt take-up or retraction means 12 attached at approximately the midpoint of each seat belt section. One section is shown in extended position and the other is shown in retracted position. It is noted that two take-up means would normally be used in conjunction with a complete seat belt.
  • Our invention comprises an independent belt retraction device which may be easily attached to a belt means.
  • it comprises an energy storing means, a reaction member attached to the energy storing ,means for taking a reaction from the belt to which the device is attached and another member attached to the energy storing means upon which the belt may be reeled or wound.
  • the take-up or retraction means comprises an energy storing means 14 illustrated here as a coil spring, a tubular member 16 for housing the spring and on which the belt is wound, and a reaction member 18 in the form of a bracket effectively connected at one end of the energy storing means 14 and at the other to the tubular member 16.
  • the spring in this example is formed with connecting means 20 and 21 in the form of radially inwardly extending spring end portions at each end to effectively connect the spring at one end to the tubular member 16 and at the other end to the reaction yoke member 18.
  • An alternative energy storing means would be, for example, a flat helical spring as illustrated in FIGURE 7.
  • the tubular housing member 16 may be formed from a flat stamping which is then formed into a tubular design.
  • the member 16 has formed thereon an attachment means in the form of a yoke 22 for attaching to the belt section 10.
  • the yoke 22 may be formed as an integral part of the member 16 by stamping the arms 23 and 24 from the metal blank used to make the tubular member 16. It will be observed that a flexible belt may be easily slipped into the yoke 22 which is open at the middle portion thereof. This construction is particularly advantageous where the device is to be used on seat belts which are already installed.
  • the yoke 22 could be a solid member, i.e., not open at the middle, and would then be more applicable to belts yet to be installed. In either case, the belt take-up means can be easily positioned at any desired position on the belt.
  • An end cap 26 is inserted into the left end of the tubular housing member 16 as viewed in FIGURE 3.
  • a pair of diametrically opposed axially extending bosses 27 are formed on the left end of,the cap 26. These bosses are received by slots 25 in the end of the housing member 16.
  • Formed at the inner end of the end cap 26 is a slot 28 for receiving the connection means 20 formed at the left end of the spring means 14 as viewed in FIGURE 4.
  • the inner end portion 29 of the end cap 26 is of a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the member 16. Since the end cap 26 is not rotatably movable with respect to the tubular member 16, the spring 14 is in effect attached to the tubular member at this end.
  • a second end cap means 30 Inserted into the other end of the tubular member 16 is a second end cap means 30.
  • This end cap 30 is formed with a slot 32 at its inner end for connection to the other end of the spring means by the connecting means 21.
  • the end cap 30 has formed therein a slot or recess 34 for receiving a bent end portion of the reaction yoke member 18.
  • the inner end portion 31 of the end cap means 30 is of substantially the same diameter as the inner end portion 29 of end cap 26. The diameter of the two portions 29 and 31 is effective to control the tension that may be put on the spring 14.
  • the end caps 26 and 30 may be made of plastic or metal as desired.
  • the end caps 26 and 30 also have formed at the inner ends thereof respectively a complementary boss 29a and recess 31a which structure helps to keep the spring 14 centered in the assembly during the operation of the device.
  • the reaction member 18 in this preferred embodiment is in the form of a ring or three-sided bracket which is formed with a central bar or arm portion 36 and two side bar portions 38 and 40.
  • One end of the side bar portion 40 has formed thereon a bent S- portion 42'which is adapted to be received in the slot 34 of end cap 30.
  • This is one manner of connecting the reaction member 18 to the end cap 30 so that these two means will not be rotatably movable relative to each other in an assembled condition.
  • the connection is such that in an assembled condition the reaction member 18 is effectively connected to the right end of the spring 14 as viewed in FIGURE 4.
  • the other side bar portion 38 has formed thereon a bent end 44 which is adapted to be received in the outer end of the end cap 26.
  • a spring biased safety closure device may be used, if desired.
  • a device may comprise, for example, tubular latch means adapted .to fit over the ends of the arms 23 and 24 and spring means for urging the latch into closed position.
  • the tubular member 16 with the spring attached is rotated counter-clockwise with respect to the reaction member 18 as viewed in FIGURE 2. This puts tension on the spring 14. It is then clipped to the belt section 10 approximately at the midpoint of the belt section in its extended position as viewed in FIGURE 1.
  • the tubular member 16 is so connected to the belt that the bar portion 36 of the reaction member 18 lies on top of the belt as viewed in FIGURE 2.
  • the tension on the spring is released thus'tending to turn the tubular member as viewed in FIGURE 2 in a clockwise direction. This winds the belt onto the tubular member 16 in a double layer.
  • the spring need only be of such size and have such force as to be able to accommodate or as to be ableto reel up essentially half a belt length 10. It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that when the belt is not in use and is in a retracted position, the belt take-up means rests snugly at the intersection of the seat and back portion of the seat.
  • the device illustrated as the preferred embodiment is made up of parts which may be easily assembled, none of the parts being permanently fastened to each other.
  • the end cap 26 is easily removed from'the tubular member 16 by pulling the side bar portion 38 out of the end cap 26.
  • the end cap 30 also slidingly fits into the tubular member 16 and may be removed therefrom.
  • the spring member 14 may be tensioned slightly to decrease the diameter and is then easily removable from the tubular member 16.
  • this is a device which can be sold, for example, as an unassembled kit or in the alternative as an assembled unit.
  • the unit may be attached to seat belts which are already in position in a variety of vehicles such as automobiles or aircraft. Such ease of assembly makes replacement of parts a simple matter.
  • FIGURES and 6 A more simplified embodiment incorporating the general concept embodied in my invention is illustrated in FIGURES and 6.
  • FIGURE 6 there is illustrated a one piece unit comprising an energy storing member in the form, for example, of a coiled torsion spring 114 with a reeling or winding bar 116 attached at one end thereof 4 and a reaction bar 118 attached at the other end of the spring 114.
  • an energy storing member in the form, for example, of a coiled torsion spring 114 with a reeling or winding bar 116 attached at one end thereof 4 and a reaction bar 118 attached at the other end of the spring 114.
  • FIGURE 7 also incorporates the general concept embodied in my invention.
  • the energy storing means is in the form of a fiat helical spring 214 which has the outer end 250 connected to the'tubular member 216 and the inner end 252 connected to the reaction member 218 through the medium of a slot 230.
  • a retractor device for vehicle seat belts comprising a first larger generally U-shaped bail having its cross bar portion adapted to engage the web-of a cooperative seat belt, a second smaller generally U-shaped bail coaxially mounted in respect to said first bail and having its middle portion adapted to engage the opposite face of said seat belt web when the belt is in extended condition, a cylindrically wound springhaving its opposite ends operatively connected between said bails to resist relative rotation therebetween in one direction, said second bail including a cylindrical tube portion encompassing said spring, and a pair of bearing flange members disposed at the opposite ends of said tube portion providing bearings between said bails during the relative rotation thereof.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
US274271A 1963-04-19 1963-04-19 Belt retracting means Expired - Lifetime US3304024A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US274271A US3304024A (en) 1963-04-19 1963-04-19 Belt retracting means
GB14309/64A GB1061834A (en) 1963-04-19 1964-04-07 Apparatus for retracting a seat belt
DE19641431212 DE1431212A1 (de) 1963-04-19 1964-04-16 Gurtaufroller
NL6404157A NL6404157A (da) 1963-04-19 1964-04-16
DEB76348A DE1277030B (de) 1963-04-19 1964-04-16 Gurtaufroller
CH504164A CH484768A (de) 1963-04-19 1964-04-20 Auszieh- und Aufrollvorrichtung für einen Gurt
DK194664AA DK113052B (da) 1963-04-19 1964-04-20 Opsamlingsorgan til sikkerhedsbælter.
CH504264A CH466060A (de) 1963-04-19 1964-04-20 Auszieh- und Aufrollvorrichtung für einen Gurt
BE646787A BE646787A (da) 1963-04-19 1964-04-20

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US274271A US3304024A (en) 1963-04-19 1963-04-19 Belt retracting means

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3304024A true US3304024A (en) 1967-02-14

Family

ID=23047528

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US274271A Expired - Lifetime US3304024A (en) 1963-04-19 1963-04-19 Belt retracting means

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3304024A (da)
BE (1) BE646787A (da)
CH (1) CH466060A (da)
DE (1) DE1277030B (da)
DK (1) DK113052B (da)
GB (1) GB1061834A (da)
NL (1) NL6404157A (da)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3392932A (en) * 1967-01-10 1968-07-16 Hoyt C. Kelsay Seat belt retractor catch

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10058001A1 (de) * 1999-11-23 2001-05-31 Takata Europ Gmbh Gurtkraftbegrenzer

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1313644A (en) * 1919-08-19 Adolph simon
US1657190A (en) * 1926-02-09 1928-01-24 George C Ballou Binding device
US2541476A (en) * 1949-10-12 1951-02-13 Eastman Kodak Co Light-tight film cartridge
US2814504A (en) * 1956-01-03 1957-11-26 John M Campbell Vehicle safety belt

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2488858A (en) * 1945-09-25 1949-11-22 Robinson Aviat Inc Safety belt for airplanes
US2861627A (en) * 1955-10-31 1958-11-25 William H Smith Retractable safety belt
US2822595A (en) * 1956-10-02 1958-02-11 Ford Motor Co Retractable seat belt buckle

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1313644A (en) * 1919-08-19 Adolph simon
US1657190A (en) * 1926-02-09 1928-01-24 George C Ballou Binding device
US2541476A (en) * 1949-10-12 1951-02-13 Eastman Kodak Co Light-tight film cartridge
US2814504A (en) * 1956-01-03 1957-11-26 John M Campbell Vehicle safety belt

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3392932A (en) * 1967-01-10 1968-07-16 Hoyt C. Kelsay Seat belt retractor catch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK113052B (da) 1969-02-10
CH466060A (de) 1968-11-30
DE1277030B (de) 1968-09-05
GB1061834A (en) 1967-03-15
NL6404157A (da) 1964-10-20
BE646787A (da) 1964-08-17

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